El Campello

El Campello
Municipality

Flag
Coat of arms
El Campello
Location in Spain
Coordinates: 38°25′39″N 0°24′4″W / 38.42750°N 0.40111°W / 38.42750; -0.40111Coordinates: 38°25′39″N 0°24′4″W / 38.42750°N 0.40111°W / 38.42750; -0.40111
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Valencian Community
Province Alicante
Comarca Alacantí
Judicial district Sant Vicent del Raspeig
Government
 • Alcalde Juan José Berenguer (2011) (PP)
Area
 • Total 55.27 km2 (21.34 sq mi)
Elevation 26 m (85 ft)
Population (2008)
 • Total 26,043
 • Density 470/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Demonym(s) campeller(a) (Valencian)
campellero/a (Spanish)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code 03560
Official language(s) Valencian
Website Official website

El Campello (Valencian pronunciation: [el kamˈpeʎo]; Spanish: Campello) is a town on the Costa Blanca of Spain, within the Valencian Community. It is a 20-minute tram ride from Alicante city. There is a busy marina and fish market.

The tower overlooking the harbour was built in the 16th century as a lookout for Berber pirates. During the day, smoke signals warned other towers along the coast of the pirates' pending arrival, and fires were lit when it was dark.

During October each year, the town holds its moros i cristians (Moors and Christians) festival. The festival includes daily "battles" through the town, where arquebuses are extensively used. There are numerous parades and late night fireworks displays. The evening parades through the centre of the town are resplendent with extravagant costumes.

Places to visit

There are archaeological remains at 'La Illeta' (in valencian language), beside the harbour, where circular cabins dating back to 3000 BC have been found. Also known as 'Banyets de la Reina', the remains of Roman-era fish factories can be seen.

It is an archaeological site of great importance and occupies 4,000 square meters in it was found remains of the Bronze Age, and also the remains of an important Iberian population that occupied that place during the second and third centuries BC, and moreover the remains of a Roman villa of the second century, including four fish ponds dug into the rock of the same time, although they are badly eroded that can still be seen, and finally remains of an Arab occupation more sporadic in the Middle Ages.

Education

Lycée Français d'Alicante, a French international school, is in El Campello.[1] The school moved to El Campello in 2005.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Home page. Lycée Français d'Alicante. Retrieved on 30 April 2015. "Camino de Marco, 21 (03560) El Campello – Alicante "
  2. ↑ "Histoire"/"Historia / Quiénes somos." Lycée Français d'Alicante. Retrieved on 29 September 2016.
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